THE PHYS I C AL SEL F :

ELF A S I MP A C T ED BY T H E
TH E S
BODY PREPARED BY:

ULA JE ANE TH S. VA LENC I A

MS. PA
WHAT IS BEAUTY?
BEAUTY is important and it comes
along with certain advantages for one’s
development of the self and aids
successful outcomes during social
interactions (Langlois, Kalakanis, Rubenstein, Larson,
Hallam, & Smoot., 2000).
FIRST IMPRESSION
WHO IS MOST
ATTRACTIVE?
People can evaluate attractiveness in
milliseconds, (Olson & Marshuetz,
2005).
MYTHS ABOUT ATTRACTIVENESS
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Do not judge the book by its cover.
Beauty is only skin – deep.
Langois and colleagues’ (2000) meta-analysis showed
that:

• Beauty is more than the eye of the beholder.

• People do judge the book by its cover.

• Beauty is not only skin – deep.
THEORIES ABOUT PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

Several theories explained why human beings

value beauty. Researchers used to construct
physical attractiveness to measure people’s
subjective view of the beautiful.
 PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND
BIOLOGICAL THEORIES
Fitness – related evolutionary theories posit that
morphological characteristics such as attractiveness are
honest indicators of fitness, health, quality, and reproductive
value, and, therefore, that attractiveness is important in
human interactions (Barber, 1995; Buss & Schmitt, 1993; Daly & Wilson, 1995; Gangestad &
Thornhill, 1997; Symons, 1979; Thornhill & Gangestad, 1993).
HUMAN MATE-SELECTION
THEORY (Buss, 1998)
• Males are drawn to
attractive females since
it is an indication of
reproductive fitness and
youth.
• Women are attracted to
men that can provide the
needs of their potential
children.
• Langlois and colleagues’ (2000) meta-analysis
unsupported this theory as it showed no
gender differences in valuing attractiveness.
 GOOD – GENES THEORY (Gangestad & Buss, 1993)

• People are more attracted to individuals

perceived to have good genes which denote
fitness and good health.
Support for this theory is found by Langlois and
associates (2000) in which both attractive
children and adults were perceived to have
better physical and mental health, along with
other positive attributes.
DIFFERENTIAL PARENTAL SOLICITUDE
THEORY (Buss, 1999)
• Assumes that attractive
children (in terms of traits and
physical appearance) are
prioritized by their parents to
be given resources, attention,
and care to ensure parental
reproductive success.
 PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND
SOCIO-CULTURAL THEORIES

Researchers have proposed that physical

attractiveness takes part in socio-cultural processes
(Langlois et al, 2000; Anderson et al, 2008; Glauert,
Rhodes, Fink, & Grammer, 2010; Morandi, 2010).
 SOCIALIZATION/EXPECTANCY THEORIES
(Langlois et al, 2000)
• Assumes that the standard of beauty is
consensually agreed by people and becomes a
cultural norm. As it is becomes a part of culture,
people normally expect certain traits and behaviors
through evaluating one’s physical appearance.
 INDIVIDUALISTS COLLECTIVISTS
Attractive people are Prioritize a person’s morality
stereotyped to have positive instead of physical
professional and relationship attractiveness in evaluation
outcomes (e.g., in career and (Dion, Pak, & Dion, 1990)
marriage; Dion et al, 1972)
This certain trend hinted that the association of
attractiveness and relationship outcomes is relative to
the cultural foundation a person is oriented to – or how
much a specific culture values attractiveness and
uses autonomy in forming and maintaining
relationships.
Anderson and colleagues (2008) proposed
that people have either voluntaristic –
independent or embedded – interdependent
orientation in forming relationships.
Arguably, the most unfavorable outcome
that comes along with physical
attractiveness is OBJECTIFICATION.
Frederickson and Roberts (1997), the pioneers od
the objectification theory, proposed that women’s
lived experiences and socialization within a
patriarchal society (i.e., male dominant systems)
contribute to self – objectification and other
mental health problems.
Morandi’s (2010) objectification theory suggests that
problems with the body image perception is due to social
experiences of individuals that are dehumanizing and
objectifying – sexual harassment and abuse.
THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF
PURSUING ATTRACTIVENESS
• Body image is a multidimensional concept that
covers how we evaluate (i.e., body satisfaction ) and
further improve our physical attractiveness ( Cash,
Morrow, Hrabosky, & Perry, 2004)
Body dissatisfaction is the negative view of oneself
towards his/her own body image (e.g., body mass,
appearance, weight, specific body parts) that is related
with eating disorders, uncontrolled dieting, low self –
esteem, and psychological well – being (see McDonald & Thompson,
1992; Furnham, Badmin, & Sneade, 2002; Tiggemann, 1997).
THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF BEING
ATTRACTIVE
Researchers have found that physical attractive
people are often stereotyped with positive traits,
behaviors, and life outcomes.
1. What is beautiful is good stereotyped

2. Physical Attractiveness Stereotyping

3. What is beautiful is good and more accurately

understood.
Attractive people can unconsciously make us feel good.

Olson and Marshuetz (2005) found out that priming

(upright) attractive faces can unconsciously stimulate
the perceiver to see positive words suggesting that
seeing attractiveness can induce positive emotions.